Mercedes had an unrealistic picture with traffic for Verstappen in FP1

Mercedes has indicated that a faster engine mode was used during the first free practice session in the United States. Tom Clarkson reveals that in the Formula 1 Nation Podcast. He also acknowledges just how impressive Hamilton's lap was in Q3 to get on the front-row as the car struggled to perform. 

In the first free practice session in the United States it looked like it was all over for Red Bull Racing. Mercedes dominated the session, but Red Bull came back throughout the weekend. The RB16B was well developed throughout the weekend but Formula 1 journalist Clarkson spoke to a Mercedes engineer.

Mercedes with a higher engine setting

''The first practice session on Friday was very misleading. Mercedes were one-two, Verstappen didn't get a lap togther with traffic. We all thought Mercedes were going to be as quick as people predicted. I spoke to Mercedes on Sunday evening and asked how confident were you on Friday? They said 'initially very confident, but then FP2 when Checo was fastest, that was a more realistic picture," Clarkson said. 

''They said they realised two things. 'One: we had the engines turned up higher than normal, and secondly we didn't realise how much Max had been affected by traffic.' They had an unrealistic picture in FP1, but actually, FP2 was the picture of the weekend. he said.

Still Hamilton managed to get on the front row of the grid. "Hamilton put in a fantastic qualifying lap to get on the front row. That was as much coming from the driver than the performance of the car. Bottas was fourth quickest prior to his penalty and that was a more realistic picture of where the car was this weekend," he added.